INTERNATIONAL YOUTH SEMINAR IN COLOMBIA
Bogotá-Colombia
May 30 and 31, 2005

The international seminar aims to create a space for reflection and proposals that affect public opinion nationally and internationally in favour of liberty, peace and democracy.

As Colombia is passing trough one of the most difficult moments of the country’s history, stuck in a war without end and augmenting political and social contradictions, the VII National Youth Festival and the II International Seminar will make for an exceptional opportunity to reaffirm a new project for a nation of peace, justice and dignity based upon the diversity of the youth.

Colombian youth, almost 30 % of the population, confronts the social and political problems in the country in the sharpest manner. In the educational sector, quality and coverage remain low on elementary, secondary and superior levels. The drop - out levels are growing as a logical consequence of the increasing poverty rates reaching 60 %, according to official numbers.

The policies of labour flexibilization implemented by the recent governments convert the right to a decent job, stability and social security into an unreachable goal for the youth, leaving them in a marginalized position. Youth unemployment rates double the average rate, reaching 45 %, a factor that strengthens the ties both to the political and armed conflict and to common crime.

The present and the future of our youth is inevitably tied to the solution of the social and armed conflict, in every battle youth make up the majority of those who fight, youth who have been denied their right to education, culture, sports and work.

Faced with this panorama, the youth responds trough thousands and thousands of organized and non-organized initiatives that run trough the country: The students defend their right to high quality public education free of charge, for freedom and democracy; artistic expressions in music, theatre, literature and painting express feelings of answers and changes, the youth as well as the country denies to end in banalities and consumerism, despite of the pain they are not willing to give up hope.

We invite the youth who are friends of Colombia, coming from different places of the world and with different perspectives, organized or not, to use their potential to dream and create transformations that are able to confront challenges.

We invite you to accompany us in a seminar that strengthens the efforts to make the burning desire for peace and democracy in Colombia come true.

OBJECTIVES:

- Arrange an exchange of views about the reality and the role of youth in the current national and international context.

- Spread knowledge about the Colombian reality and experiences of youth organizing and participation in the rest of the world.

- Create common initiatives and proposals that strengthen the role of Colombian youth in the struggle for peace with social justice in Colombia.

- Strengthen relations and youth exchange between Colombian and international organizations.

Present the initiative to host the IV Youth World Festival in Bogotá, Colombia in 2007

PARTICIPANTS:

All members of international youth - and student organizations who agree with the contents of the invitation, and especially the support for the Colombian youth struggle for peace, are invited to participate in the event.

There will be 150 delegates from the National Preparatory Committee for the VII Youth Festival, the Youth Sector of Planeta Paz and the National Assembly of Youth for Peace.

INSCRIPTIONS:

The cost of inscription is USD 200 for international delegates. This covers housing, food and documents May 27.-31. (National Festival and International Seminar)

The cost of inscription for national delegates is $30.000. This covers housing on the May 30, food and documents.

TIME AND PLACE:

Bogotá, Colombia, May 30 and 31 / 2005.

PROGRAM:

May 30:
8:00 a.m. Accreditation.
9:00 a.m. Inauguration of the event.
9:30 a.m. Opening panel debate: “The search for peace in Colombia and the role of the international community”
12:30 a.m. Lunch.
2:00 p.m. Workshops
· Youth and globalization.
· Youth and the search for peace in Colombia.
· Youth, cooperation and international solidarity.
6:00 p.m. End of work session.
8:30 p.m. Cultural activities.

May 31:
8:30 a.m. Workshops on different topics. Based on the conclusions reached by the VII National Festival and other proposals the following themes will be debated:
- Education.
- Environment.
- Free development of personality, gender and sexuality.
- Culture and identity.
- Human rights and freedom.
- Organizing and youth participation.
- Economic agreement and international integration.
12:00 a.m. Lunch.
2:00 p.m. Plenary session with presentation of the conclusions from the workshops.
4:00 p.m. Closing ceremony and final declaration.

ORGANIZERS AND HOSTS:

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF YOUTH FOR PEACE
PLANETA PAZ – YOUTH SECTOR
THE NATIONAL PREPARATORY COMMITTEE FOR THE VII NATIONAL YOUTH FESTIVAL IN COLOMBIA

FURTHER INFORMATION:

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF YOUTH FOR PEACE
Tel: (+ 57) – 1 – 2872216
Cell: (+57) 311 -4462647.
Bogotá – Colombia

asambleajovenes@asambleaporlapaz.com